By A post construction clean is not one clean. It is a sequence: a rough clean while the trades finish, a detailed clean once they have gone, and a final touch-up before hand-over. Miss a stage, or do them in the wrong order, and the dust that was hiding in the extractor fan or on top of the door frames ends up back on your new floors. This checklist takes you through all three stages, room by room, in the order professionals use. It works whether you are tackling a small decorating job yourself or checking what a cleaning company should be doing for you.
Before you start: tools and safety
- HEPA-filtered vacuum with crevice and brush tools. A standard vacuum blows fine dust back into the room and can be damaged by plaster dust.
- Microfibre cloths (lots of them) for damp-wiping.
- Plastic scrapers and new blades for paint and labels on glass.
- Surface-safe residue removers for grout haze, adhesive and silicone. Always test first on a hidden area.
- Dust mask (FFP2/FFP3), gloves and eye protection. Dust from cutting brick, concrete or stone can contain silica.
- Ventilation: open windows and run extractor fans while you work.
Stage 1: the rough clean (as the trades finish)
- Remove offcuts, packaging, nails, screws and loose debris.
- Confirm skips and large waste are being removed by the builder.
- Sweep and vacuum floors to remove the heaviest dust.
- Take off protective film from windows, worktops and appliances only once the messy trades are finished.
- Ventilate the property and check that any temporary dust sheets and floor protection are cleaned off before removing.
Stage 2: the main clean, room by room
Always work from the top of each room down, and leave floors until last.
Every room
- Ceilings, coving and cornicing dusted.
- Light fittings, shades and bulbs dusted (power off first).
- Vents, extractor fan covers and air filters cleaned or replaced.
- Walls dusted or damp-wiped, paint splashes removed from switches and sockets.
- Tops of doors, door frames and architraves wiped.
- Skirting boards vacuumed then damp-wiped.
- Radiators cleaned, including between the fins.
- Window frames, sills and tracks vacuumed and wiped.
- Glass cleaned inside, with paint flecks and labels scraped off carefully.
Kitchen
- Inside every cupboard and drawer vacuumed and wiped.
- Cupboard doors, handles and plinths cleaned.
- Worktops and splashback cleaned with the right product for the surface (stone, laminate, wood or glass).
- Sink, taps and drainer descaled and polished.
- Appliances: protective film off, inside and outside wiped, hob and extractor cleaned.
- Grout haze and silicone smears removed from tiles.
Bathrooms
- Grout haze removed from wall and floor tiles.
- Toilet, basin, bath and shower tray cleaned and polished, stickers and adhesive removed.
- Shower screen cleaned of plaster and silicone residue.
- Taps, shower heads and chrome polished.
- Mirrors and cabinets cleaned inside and out.
- Extractor fan cover removed and cleaned.
Bedrooms and living areas
- Inside wardrobes and built-in storage vacuumed and wiped.
- Fireplaces and hearths cleaned.
- Any fitted furniture wiped inside and out.
Floors (last)
- HEPA vacuum all floors, edges and corners.
- Wet clean using the right method for each surface: pH-neutral for stone, minimal water for wood and laminate.
- Carpets vacuumed slowly in two directions. New carpets often need several passes as fibres shed.
Stage 3: the final sparkle clean (before hand-over)
Fine dust keeps settling for a day or two after the main clean. The final clean catches it.
- Dust all horizontal surfaces again, top down.
- Polish glass, mirrors, chrome and switches.
- Final vacuum and mop.
- Run taps, flush toilets and check extractor fans are clear.
- Walk through every room in daylight and with lights on to catch streaks and missed spots.
Tasks best left to professionals
- Cement, mortar and render splashes on glass, stone or brick.
- Heavy grout haze on porous or natural stone tiles.
- High-level windows and glazing beyond safe ladder height.
- Large commercial units, new-build developments and multi-unit hand-overs to a deadline.
How long does it take and what does it cost?
Doing all three stages yourself in a typical flat takes two to three days. A professional team usually completes the main and final clean in one to two days. In Edinburgh, professional after builders cleaning typically costs:
- Small property or light work: £120 – £200
- 2–3 bedrooms: £180 – £300
- 4+ bedrooms or major renovation: £250 – £400+
See the full breakdown on our after builders cleaning cost page, or read how post construction cleaning differs from a regular clean.
Get your post construction clean done for you
MT Cleaners carries out post construction and after builders cleans across Edinburgh and the Lothians, for homeowners, landlords, builders and developers. We follow this checklist on every job, bring HEPA equipment as standard and give you a fixed price up front. See our after builders cleaning service, send photos on WhatsApp, or call +44 7747 675575.
Post construction cleaning checklist FAQs
What is the correct order for post construction cleaning?
Rough clean first, then the main clean working top to bottom in each room with floors last, then a final sparkle clean a day or two later once remaining dust has settled.
What is included in post construction cleaning?
Debris removal, dust removal from every surface including inside cupboards, vents and fittings, removal of paint, adhesive and grout residue, full kitchen and bathroom cleaning, glass, floors, and a final inspection.
Why does dust keep coming back after building work?
Construction dust is very fine and stays airborne for hours, then settles inside vents and fittings and gets released again. That is why HEPA vacuums, damp-wiping and a second pass are needed.
Should the builder or a cleaner do the final clean?
Most builders do a “builders clean”, which is usually a rough clean. Check your contract. For a move-in ready finish, book a specialist post construction clean once all trades have left.
